Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common motor disorder in Parkinson’s disease (PD). It is characterised by sudden, unanticipated interruptions in gait, lasting from seconds to minutes, in which people feel that their feet are stuck to the floor and unable to move forward despite trying hard.

FOG episodes can occur in other neurological diseases too. The phenomenon is particularly debilitating and often requires physical support from another person to get unstuck and start walking again. Treatment strategies developed for managing gait disorders and freezing include medications, deep brain stimulation (DBS), physical therapy interventions and external visual cues.

Anatomical Concepts offer a neat product called NexStride that uses cueing technology to help overcome the freezing of gait.

Standing is an essential human function that allows us to explore and interact with our environment. It is also good for our health. However, for individuals with mobility impairments, or lower limb paralysis, standing regularly and safely can be a challenge. Fortunately, with advances in assistive technology, standing is now possible for many people, even those who cannot stand on their own. Many products - both simple and complex exist to help people stand despite their disability. Many times, people find it hard to embrace a standing regime, due to boredom. What if technology existed that allowed standing to be combined with moving around?

One such technology solution is the Tek RMD; a robotic mobilisation device designed to help individuals with mobility impairments stand and move around with ease in their environments. In this article, we will explore the importance of standing and how the Tek RMD allows individuals to achieve this, both indoors and outdoors.

Functional Electrical Stimulation, commonly known as FES, has many practical applications. FES is a widely used, non-invasive treatment technique that applies electrical impulses to weak or paralysed muscles. The idea of using electricity to have a beneficial effect on the body is not new, but it is only with advances in technology in recent years are we starting to see the true potential of this approach for neurorehabilitation and healthcare in general.
The purpose of functional electrical stimulation is usually to generate a useful (functional) muscle contraction; often with the aim of improving function and movement but, depending on the type of stimulation used, an FES device can do much more than that.

In this article we review the topic of FES, some of it's applications and point to some of the devices offered by Anatomical Concepts.

Electrical stimulation is a commonly used treatment for various conditions, including pain relief and can often be very effective. What would count as success very much depends on the reason for the pain and it’s severity. In some cases, pain relief with any technique will be temporary but then the benefit may have to be weighed against other factors. As with any potential treatments there are contraindications and indications.
We would typically need to consider electrical stimulation effectiveness and safety in comparison with possible alternatives. As electrical stimulation is relatively safe and non-invasive in many situations it is often worth trying before more invasive alternatives are considered for example.
We will describe what is behind the TENS approach as well as other approaches that might not be so well known. At Anatomical Concepts we deal with a product called the Stimulette Edition 5 which boasts a number of built-in protocols for the management of pain. In this article we will describe how electrotherapy can be used to work with pain and the specific abilities of the Edition 5.

Hand function is an essential aspect of an individual’s daily life. It allows people to perform various activities such as writing, grasping objects, and gestures. However, many factors can disrupt hand function such as physical injury, nerve damage, stroke, spinal cord injury and more. Fortunately, there are several ways to regain hand function. This article will delve into the different techniques and tips on how you can regain your hand function.

Later in this article we will introduce Carbonhand. This technology, by providing support and enhancing grip strength, can help individuals regain control over their daily lives, allowing them to maintain their autonomy, social engagement, and overall well-being.

We are finding there is a growing interest in using electrotherapy to treat denervated muscle. There are many clinical benefits of doing this and given equipment like the Stimulator RISE, it is very easy to do. Clients can do this safely at home given guidance and support.
Denervated muscle refers to a muscle that has lost its nerve supply or connection to the nervous system. Nerves play a crucial role in controlling muscle movement and function by sending electrical impulses to the muscle fibers. When a muscle becomes denervated, it loses this connection, which can lead to muscle weakness, atrophy (shrinkage), and even loss of muscle function over time. The article features a video from Anatomical Concepts DIrector, Derek Jones, who describes the rationale and process of using the RISE Stimulator in some detail. You can review the video and the transcript is shown